Biography
Richard Devereux has explored a 'signature palette' of elemental ingredients for over two decades - these include zinc, copper, lead, gold and stone. In recent years he has focussed exclusively on the sixth most abundant element of the periodic table, carbon. By employing a flame (which delivers a fine thread of carbon) he paints/draws onto paper and stone enabling the phenomena to evolve in a completely unique manner. As a fundamental component, carbon is employed in Devereux's work both for its diverse mark-making properties and as a metaphor - being an essential material for all life it has played a crucial role in creating consciousness and consequently the ability to imagine.
Born in 1956, Devereux studied at Portsmouth College of Art from 1974 - 1977. He has shown extensively since 1979, and his work features in numerous private, national and international collections, including Chelsea School of Art, London; Sackner Archive, USA; Tate Gallery, London; Tsukuba Dojo, Japan; Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven; Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK.
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The Critics… 1
This Is Our Intense Desire
'The enclosed flame burns more fiercely and if it grows - be it ever so little - it can in no way be concealed.' Francesco Petrarch, 1304-74
Some artists build, others concentrate to a core of intensity. Through reduction, a process of expansion takes place in Devereux's work extending the means from minus to plus infinity, from the particular to the universal, from the fountain to the ocean. This process encompasses a spiritual evolution from darkness to light and is guided by love, courage and humility. Collectively, these qualities give birth to a ground of radiant emptiness upon which a creative alchemy between meditation and fire (applying carbon to paper from a flame) inspires images which expand from this emptiness - images of luminous transformation - images of our desire.
'Cold craftsmanship is the best container of fire,' wrote Vernon Watkins. Beyond the human face of craftsmanship, sometimes limited by self and ego, Devereux's work gravitates towards the domain of metaphysical purity where the physical and spiritual flow and merge. Such deeply excavated purity should be experienced with the respect only silence and inner peace can bring.
Carbon, a universal element, and common denominator between the universe and ourselves - the substrate of our own flesh and blood - may be said to represent the 'ground' in these works. Emerging - arising - from this ground is the metaphysical gift, 'the moment of truth,' we may realise within ourselves.
There is no division between artwork and viewer, the sacred flows reciprocally from body to body. There is no language in this domain, there are no thoughts, there is no viewpoint. There is no past and no future.
This work is experienced less by the eye and more by our inner being. Once seen, we may continue to experience this work with our eyes closed.
There is our experience.
There is our desire.